ASTEROID

The messages from Earth finally started to appear on Stood's screen, but what he read was a terrifying alert. His eyes were fixed on the screen as a deep, urgent voice sounded from the other side, almost breathless, as if carrying the weight of all humanity.

"Commander Stood, this is the President of the Union of Countries. We are facing an unprecedented crisis. An asteroid of catastrophic dimensions is on a collision course with Earth. We have a very narrow window to act, and all our options are limited. We need your help."

The message echoed in his mind like a heavy blow. He knew that the Genesis was far too distant to act directly. But at the same time, he understood that humanity's only chance for survival was in his hands. Time was running out, and Earth was about to face the greatest disaster in its history.

Stood felt the weight of responsibility pressing on his chest. Earth was at risk. Extinction was closer than ever, and the only thing he could do was act—act quickly and decisively.

"Mr. President," he said, his voice firm but heavy with gravity. "I understand the magnitude of what we're facing. The Genesis, despite being thousands of light-years away, may be our only chance for survival. We cannot stop the asteroid, but we can do something else."

He took a deep breath, and his mind began to focus on the future, formulating a strategy that would require speed and precision. "The only way to save Earth is to evacuate part of the population to a safe place. And that place cannot be further than the Moon. I have a secret lunar base. A project I started before the Genesis mission. That base is ready to house part of Earth's population. Evacuation will be our only chance."

The President was silent for a moment, processing the information, before responding, his voice calmer but still tense. "Commander, we understand the gravity of the situation. We are mobilizing all our forces. We are starting the evacuation, but we will need your help to coordinate it. Time is against us."

Stood felt a brief sense of relief, but he knew this was just the beginning. He would have to act quickly, without hesitation. "I will send the necessary data, but we need to be fast and discreet. We cannot allow the knowledge we have to be misused. The secret of Genesis and the lunar base must be kept at all costs."

As communication with Earth was established, the situation on the planet became more urgent. The Union of Countries was mobilizing its resources, coordinating a large-scale evacuation operation. The world's major powers had united, deploying all available logistical strength to save as many lives as possible. Control centers were opened, and teams of engineers, scientists, and military personnel began to work tirelessly, with every second counting.

Rocket launches and other transport vehicles were being prepared to carry as many people as possible. The big question was: who would be chosen to go? How could they ensure that the spacecraft would be able to transport so many people? The decisions were difficult, but the priority was to ensure that the most capable and essential individuals for humanity's survival were on board.

While Earth mobilized, Stood gathered with his team aboard the Genesis, coordinating calculations and evacuation strategies. The AI, silent and discreet, began working in the background. With its ability to optimize decisions, it calculated the best way to utilize Earth's resources, optimized spacecraft launch methods, and simulated potential failures to ensure the plan's success.

"The calculations are ready, Commander," said one of the engineers, analyzing the screens. "The spacecraft are set to launch as soon as the evacuation begins. We are ready to transfer the population to the Moon."

"We're on the right track, but we cannot underestimate the complexity of what's to come," Stood replied, thoughtful. "We must maintain precision, no mistakes."

On Earth, the evacuation operation was beginning to take shape. In the airspace, the movement of rockets and capsules was frantic. The major cities of the world were being evacuated in phases, with the most vulnerable populations being moved to launch centers around the planet. Although panic gripped many regions, there was still hope in the faces of those who believed a real chance for survival had been established.

Meanwhile, teams on Earth were working tirelessly to develop the transport systems needed to move millions of people. Engineers, already on high alert, began building specialized spacecraft capable of carrying thousands. The enormous ships, designed to withstand the harshness of space, were equipped with life support systems, propulsion mechanisms, and state-of-the-art cargo compartments.

While Earth tried to solve its problems, the crew aboard the Genesis worked nonstop to ensure the evacuation process went smoothly. However, there was something Stood had not yet considered, and Elisa, his chief engineer, entered the room with an idea that could change everything.

"Commander," she said in a calm yet unsettling tone, "we were reviewing the plans, and... there's something you may have forgotten. Not just the Moon, but the underground facility we developed on the island where it all started. We could transfer millions of people there."

Stood looked at her for a moment, perplexed. He did not remember that facility, but it was a solution that made perfect sense. The underground base on the island was highly advanced, self-sustaining, with security systems and resources sufficient to sustain life for years. It could accommodate a large part of the population, perhaps even more than the lunar base, which did not have the same capacity.

"It's an audacious idea, Elisa. I... I hadn't thought of that possibility. Transferring millions to the island's underground base... that could save so many lives. Can we do that?"

Elisa smiled slightly, knowing time was running out. "We've already started mapping the best transportation method. And the underground infrastructure is intact, ready to receive whoever is necessary."

Stood nodded. He knew that, while the evacuation to the Moon was the first line of defense, the underground base could be the last chance for a larger portion of the population to survive.

"Let's do it," Stood said, his voice firm but intense. "If Earth is to survive, we will do whatever it takes, in whatever way possible. But above all, we need to ensure that the secret of Genesis and the underground base remains intact. Future generations cannot pay the price for our choices."

The race to save humanity intensified. As Earth's forces continued preparing rockets and ships to transport people, an even more complex task began. The machines, designed to evacuate entire populations, needed to be assembled and tested with extreme precision. Stood's team aboard the Genesis helped optimize the designs of large-scale spacecraft and loading systems. Meanwhile, on Earth, engineers worked tirelessly to ensure the enormous ships could carry thousands of people at once.

The transportation effort was colossal. Giant industrial machines were assembled to launch thousands of people, from the most elite engineers to carefully selected ordinary citizens. The first rockets took off from Earth, carrying thousands of refugees toward the lunar base. Some ships had to make multiple trips, given the unprecedented number of evacuees, while others were equipped to ensure that everyone was safely transferred to the island's underground facility.

The situation in the air was chaotic. Among the rockets going to the Moon, others were diverted to the island, guided by intricate logistical systems that mapped the fastest routes. Stood's algorithms sprang to life again as they optimized flight paths and calculated the maximum number of people each ship could carry.

Simultaneously, on Earth, the underground base began its final preparations. The massive underground network—once used for research—was rapidly being transformed into a fully equipped refuge, with advanced living facilities, food production systems, and long-term survival resources. The tunnels that would house millions were expanded and reinforced, while automated machines worked nonstop to finalize the assembly.

As the rockets continued their launches, the last ship carrying humanity's hope arrived at the underground base. The evacuation was completed at the last moment. The final waves of people descended to the depths of the Earth, where they would remain hidden, safe from the destructive asteroid and the chaos above. Stood remained silent, looking at the screens that displayed the launch sites, knowing that his decisions had shaped the fate of humankind.